Oakland Insurance Denials Lawyer
Compassionate Insurance Denials Lawyers Serving Oakland, CA
Insurance policies are just a fact of modern life. Most of us diligently pay our premiums, trusting that if we need them, our insurance company will do the right thing and pay a fair and legitimate claim. Instead what many of us find is an industry that uses as many measures as possible to deny benefits. If you have experienced an insurance denial recently, get the help of an Oakland insurance denials lawyer. At Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP, we can help.
What the Insurance Company Agrees To
An insurance policy is a contractual agreement between the insurance company and a policyholder. A policy makes specific promises in exchange for your premiums:
- It promises to act in good faith.
- It promises to provide coverage as detailed in the policy
- It promises to consider the policyholder’s interests equal to its own.
But many companies fail to live up to their side of the agreement. This is when having the representation of an Oakland insurance denials lawyer is critical.
Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
There are many valid reasons that insurance companies deny policyholders’ claims. Some of these are completely justified. In the insurance industry, fraud is a common issue, so companies are always watchful for fraudulent claims. But the pendulum often swings too far in the other direction, leading to many unfair denials of legitimate claims.
Consequently, in a significant percentage of denials, the reasons for the denial seem frivolous and oftentimes not in good faith. Many times, insurance companies delay benefits to the point that a policyholder finally gives up. At Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP, our experienced Oakland insurance denials attorneys have a long history of holding insurance companies accountable to their policyholders and their legitimate claims.
Who Do Insurance Companies Really Protect?
All the large insurance companies are highly profitable businesses. They collect premiums from their policyholders each month, make wise investments, and must continue to prove their profitability to their shareholders. And herein lies the problem.
The For-Profit Insurance Model
The more claims an insurance company is required to pay out to their claimants, the more it eats into profits. Such is the nature of the for-profit insurance model. Although the industry is highly regulated, insurance companies have a reputation for questionable tactics and often cross the line into bad faith practices. Their policies are riddled with loopholes, limitations, and exclusions, and their documentation typically states that they reserve the right not to pay their claimants for a variety of reasons.
Insurance companies are notorious for denying and delaying claims for simple errors in paperwork, resulting in the claimant’s resubmitting the claim. There can be disputes about how much the company is willing to pay or what caused the damage or injury. In the meantime, time is running out for the claimant. Fortunately, California affords insurance policyholders the right to appeal insurance denials.
Understanding Your Rights and Your Obligations
Although policyholders have a right to expect their insurance company will settle fairly on a claim, the insurance companies believe that it is the policyholder’s burden to prove that they are entitled to benefits. Consequently, a claimant is required to actively keep up with records and documentation proving their entitlement and supporting their claim. This often happens when a policyholder is least able to do this. Our Oakland insurance denials lawyers attorneys can help guide your efforts to strengthen your insurance claim and represent your rights when you need it most.
Contact Our Oakland Insurance Denials Lawyer
If your insurance company has unfairly denied benefits, we can help. At Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP, we have dedicated our careers to holding insurance companies accountable to their policyholders and their contractual obligations. Contact us to understand how we can assist you in getting the insurance benefits you deserve.